Sassy’s Marks & Spencer Food Shopping Spree!

You might have been able to tell from our Facebook and Instagram that we were pretty excited – okay VERY excited – for the opening of a new Marks and Spencer Food store in Soho. In fact, this new store is the biggest M&S food store in Hong Kong with over 2,000 different products available. This classic British brand is a true Sassy favourite!

We already love their reliable and stylish clothes (check out our stunning style contributor Sabrina rocking M&S looks here), but their food just takes it to another level. High quality ingredients, British comfort food and summer specials fill the new Kinwick Centre store, so we were more than happy to check it out, especially as we were given a very special shopping spree too! Bring on the biscuits…

What she thought:
Having M&S Food open their biggest food store on the way home from work is causing a serious dent in my wallet. My entire credit card statement from last month was just M&S purchases and let me tell you, you might think you’re only going in to buy Spicy Red Pepper Houmous, but you’ll come out with much more!

I decided to be slightly adventurous and add some summer glam to my movie snacks with the Wasabi Popcorn. This had just the right amount of kick to it and best of all, was a relatively healthy, non-guilty snack. On that note I also selected the Dulche de Leche Flavoured Teacakes – can you ever say no to those three magical words? It was an afternoon tea delight that would make even the Queen herself squeal with glee!

What she thought:
I’ve grown up with Marks and Spencer being the ever-reliable, go-to shopping destination for indulgent treats. As my Mum is from the UK, I would say that I definitely have a close connection to this British brand, which is why I was near ecstatic when we were invited for a shopping spree at the new store! With so many delicious goodies on offer, it was hard to choose, but I went for things that I wouldn’t normally buy when grocery shopping. The Chorizo Pack was reasonably priced for the amount you get and went perfectly well with the Cheese & Onion Low Fat Crisps, Mozzarella and Casalinga Tomatoes, Moroccan-style Topped Houmous and Stilton Blue Cheese for a ‘mezze board’ style dinner. Rich, indulgent food that you can’t stop munching on!

I couldn’t resist buying a pack of Percy Pigs – those cute, sweet chewy bites make me feel like a kid again! I was excited to try the new Percy range, ‘Globetrotting Percy’, which includes a tasty raspberry panda and a mango-flavoured tiger. I also had to get the adorable Percy Pig tin, filled with little biscuits. Safe to say I was on a sugar high! I wash all this down with their summer special Elderflower Sparkling Drink – perfect for cooling down on those (sporadic) sunny days.

What she thought:
I have a giant sweet tooth, and the M&S Mini Shortbread Rounds are the perfect mini snack, buttery and crumbly. I also picked this item for its fun casing, which I plan to use as a cookie jar for my kitchen when the shortbread is gone! M&S is known for their amazing houmous, but it’s hard to pick just one flavour with the awesome selection! That’s why I opted for this three-flavour Houmous Pack, with the spicy red pepper flavour and a mellower, but still as tasty, lemon and coriander. It’s perfect for a party appetiser with some pita chips on the side.

I picked the Black Olive Crackers as they’re perfect for making hors d’ouevres and for pairing with cheeses, smoked salmon or mozzarella. I like the flecks of black olive, which give it a bit of flavour without being overpowering! The fruit chutney is also another great item to pair with everything from meats to breads. I’m not too familiar with fruit chutneys but this one sounded particularly enticing with sultanas, dates & molasses steeped in white wine vinegar. Yum!

What she thought:I’ve definitely got a fruit and berry thing going on here! I can’t walk into an M&S and not grab a bag of Percy Pigs to go – so they were the first things into my shopping trolley (and the first to be eaten later!). I also couldn’t resist picking up some Oat Crunch Biscuits, Redcurrant Puffs and Jam Sandwich Creams. These are great in-between meal nibbles, and it was very hard to share them with the family!

The Cranberry and Raspberry Juice has been great for cooling down on these hot summer days, whilst the honey roast ham crisps are the perfect accompaniment to lazy movie nights in. I love starting my day with the Berries, Cherries and Flakes Cereal. Not only is it healthy, but delicious enough to get me out of bed in the mornings! But I think my favourite has been the Blueberry Muffins, which are a tasty on-the-go snack and I plan on stocking my fridge full of them.

What she thought:
The Skinny Chocolate Frappe was super fluffy and not overly sweet, chocolatey goodness! I am a big fan of chocolate mousse so this is a great low-fat option for hot Hong Kong summer days. The serving looks small but it’s just enough for a snack.

I’m usually pretty weary of sugar free candies since that artificial sugar taste really puts me off, but the Sugar Free Strawberry and Cream Drops don’t have the awful artificial sugar taste and doesn’t leave you with thoughts of impending cavities!

What she thought:
I couldn’t wait to try these luxury yogurts, and the William Pear & Wild Blackberry one was slightly fruitier than what I expected… which is why I loved it! The Lemon & Lime Curd one was very rich and tasted similar to biscuits that I used to have when I was little which brought back some fond childhood memories.

I’ve also cracked into the Belgian Milk Chocolate Coated Californian Raisins, which I find difficult to get in Hong Kong. I really loved these and they make for the perfect afternoon snack… I’ll definitely be visiting M&S Food for them again! Of course, who can say no to jelly beans too!

What she thought:
This Apple & Cinnamon Crunch Cereal is so crunchy and tasty – it has such a variety in the mix, you’ll never know what you taste next. The dried apple pieces and the chocolate covered flakes that appear from time to time add to the fun. Not too sweet but not too plain.

I decided to get the Simply M&S Spaghetti as I’ve recently run out at home, and this was a great price! It wasn’t the most fast-cooking spaghetti but it was standard durum wheat, and good with any sauce. I love pesto so I was excited to try this Red Pesto version, which would go well with my spaghetti. It smelled almost exactly like green pesto and I had to use quite a bit as the flavour is a little milder.

What I thought:When I heard M&S Food was opening in Hong Kong, I couldn’t wait! I’ve spent lots of time nosing around the food section of their Central store, eyeing up the Chocolate Eclairs (sweets, not the French pastry kind!) and the bakery section, willing myself not to overindulge.

Since I’m trying to avoid sugar, I had the difficult task of steering clear of the chocolatey delights. I’m a sucker for the Seville Orange Marmalade on toast! No one at home eats the stuff except me, so I took the opportunity to grab a jar, and in true health-conscious form, had it slathered on a Multiseed Bloomer Slice for ultimate deliciousness. I can go through an entire pack of both the Cheddar Cheese Crispies and the Handcrafted Italian Flatbreads, so had to stop myself at picking up just one box of each to satisfy the afternoon hunger pangs at the office to enjoy with a mug of the fragrant Peppermint Tea.

What she thought:
I never leave M&S without a good supply of houmous! I love their Houmous Selection Pack, which comes in three flavours – plain, spicy red pepper (my favourite) and coriander. I was so glad that I found some Meringue Nests, as they’re difficult to find in HK (I only ever buy them from City Super). I’ll be serving these with some whipped cream and fresh berries… the perfect summer dessert!

It was love at first sight with the Pineapple, Coconut & White Chocolate Cookies (from the summer collection). Imagine Pina Colada but in buttery-gooey form! As soon as I heard Lauren refer to the Lemon and Lime Curd Luxury Yogurt as “probably the best thing she’s ever tasted”, I just had to bring it home… she’s queen of M&S Food after all.

An unfortunate victim of a serious case of sweet-tooth disease, I also picked up some chocolate, but not the plain old boring bars (please…). The Chocolate Covered Honeycomb and Double Chocolate Popcorn was exactly what I need to satisfy my devilish cravings. I guess the cute little pack of Apple Crisps were a solution to make myself feel better about the rest of my list?

Have our M&S picks made you jealous? Head over to the conveniently located store and pick up a couple of these items for yourself! The perfect treats are waiting for you…